Coronavirus: Global airlines body says disease will cost industry $252bn March 24, 2020 Industry body the International Air Transport Association has more than doubled its previous estimates of the revenue damage that the coronavirus epidemic will do to the world’s airlines, now setting the figure at $252bn (£214bn). Due to the stringent travel bans and border closures that have been implemented around the world as the result of [...]
Coronavirus: Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey calls for more Tube services March 24, 2020 Conservative mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has urged Sadiq Khan to increase Tube capacity to alleviate rush hour overcrowding. Pictures and videos of overcrowding on Tube carriages flooded social media for the second day in a row this morning, despite the government’s new draconian restrictions. Khan and train drivers’ union Aslef have both been quick to [...]
Coronavirus: Government will not provide industry-wide airline rescue package March 24, 2020 The government will not provide a single support package for the UK’s airlines and airports, but will instead provide aid on a case-by-case basis. The decision is an apparent u-turn on the government’s original plan. Last week chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would be discussing a potential package for “specifically airlines and airports”. Instead, Sunak [...]
Crossrail construction suspended over coronavirus lockdown March 24, 2020 Construction on Crossrail and all Transport for London (TfL) projects has been stopped due to the coronavirus lockdown. TfL commissioner Mike Brown MVO made the call today, after Boris Johnson effectively placed the country in lockdown last night. The halt to work on Crossrail means the new £18.25bn train line will almost certainly not be [...]
Coronavirus: Tube could shut amid overcrowding, union warns March 24, 2020 Transport for London’s (TfL) biggest train drivers’ union has warned the Tube could shut if people continue to overcrowd carriages at rush hour. Chaotic scenes were witnessed on the Tube once again this morning, despite Boris Johnson effectively putting the country on coronavirus lockdown last night. TfL also heavily reduced its public transport services last [...]
Coronavirus: Ryanair ‘does not expect to operate flights in April and May’ March 24, 2020 Ryanair has confirmed that it “does not expect to operate flights in April and May” due to the coronavirus epidemic, a week after warning that it would ground “most, if not all” of its planes. The budget carrier has instead offered its aircraft to all EU governments to use for repatriating civilians and to transport [...]
Coronavirus: Government decision to take over rail network raises questions over Williams review March 23, 2020 The government’s decision to bring the UK’s rail network under the management of the Department for Transport for the duration of the coronavirus crisis has raised questions over the future of the rail franchising system. Former chairman of British Airways Keith Williams is currently conducting a “root and branch” review of the current system ahead [...]
Coronavirus: Tube drivers ‘furious’ at people still commuting March 23, 2020 Tube drivers are “furious” at the amount of people still catching the Tube in rush hour, according to a London Underground union boss. Social media was awash this morning with photos of packed Tube trains, despite the government instructing people to not use public transport unless they were an “essential worker” going to their workplace. [...]
Flying taxi startup Lilium raises $240m in funding round March 23, 2020 German flying taxi firm Lilium has raised an extra $240m (£207m) in funding from backers such as Chinese tech firm Tencent. The new funds mean that the startup has now raised more than $340m, which it will use for further development of its prototype jet as well as preparing its facilities to begin production. The [...]
Morrisons cuts fuel prices as oil prices dip lower March 23, 2020 Supermarket Morrisons has announced a reduction in forecourt fuel prices. Effective from today, unleaded and diesel will be reduced by 12 and 8p a litre respectively. Morrisons said this will save the average customer £6 on unleaded and £4 on diesel. Although prices vary locally, Morrisons currently charges 116p a litre for unleaded and 118.5p [...]